Charity is helping charity through one of the toughest times.
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In fact, not-for-profit organisation the Southern Highlands Foundation has recently handed over $40,000 to another charity, Can Assist Southern Highlands.
The donation comes at a time when Can Assist - which supports Southern Highlands people diagnosed with cancer - is still coming to terms with a massive hit to its fundraising abilities this year.
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Can Assist was to have been the 2020 charity partner of the Tulip Time Festival. The link was significant with both the charity and Tulip Time celebrating their 60th anniversaries this year.
However, the hopes for a major boost to Can Assist coffers were dashed when the Tulip Time Festival was cut back in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It was a situation that has compounded the overall fundraising ability of the cancer support charity due to COVID-19 restrictions.
Can Assist president Jenny Harper said that donations to the charity had also dropped by 95 per cent in 2020.
Enter a much-needed boost from the Southern Highlands Foundation - a charity designed to source funds and seek worthy recipients for funding support.
So far this financial year the foundation has donated about $250,000 to such worthy recipients in the Southern Highlands, including various projects directly impacted by the bushfires that hit the region over summer. The Foundation has been integral in the distribution of funds raised through FireAid 2020.
Furthermore the foundation has been a long time supporter of Can Assist projects through the Cancer Care Fund delivering respite care for carers of cancer patients and funding palliative care training for nurse education.
Southern Highlands Foundation chair Shelley Boyce said the charity now wanted to play a more "pro-active role in the Cancer Care Fund."
She said cancer didn't stop through the hardship of COVID-19, and people were further impacted by other challenges of the past year such as drought, fire and flood in the Southern Highlands.
"The Southern Highlands Foundation attracts funds through donations and bequests which are then passed on to where they are needed," she said.
There is no doubt that Can Assist is one such charity in need this year.
While the ability for Can Assist volunteers to carry out fundraising activities has all but come to a complete halt since the start of the year due to COVID-19 restrictions, the demand for support has grown.
Ms Harper said that the charity was currently distributing between $8500 to $9500 per month, which was a 20 per cent increase since January.
The Can Assist committee has welcomed the invaluable support of the Southern Highlands Foundation.
Details about making a donation, offering sponsorship or becoming a Can Assist volunteer and member: www.canassist.org.au/southernhighlands or email southernhighlands@canassist.org.au
If you need Can Assist support call 0474 647 506.
Those keen to support the Southern Highlands Foundation can contact 0414 480 630.
